The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1887-09-29
Our Evening Sermon
'The soul Of the wicked desireth
evil; his neighbor findeth no favor in
his eyes" Prov. 21-1O.

"The soul of the wicked deslrett
evil; his neighbor indeth no favor IL
his yes."-Prov. 21-1O.
Even casual glance at the utter
ances Of Solomon, son of David, will
convince any one that, to use SLANG
word Of to-day, ''his head was about
level" The great principle underly
the christian character, as gathered
from the study Of the Scriptures, Ii
Love. All the elements Of Christian
strength may be classed under the one
head. To fulfill the law Of love, would
be the ''fulfllment Of the law" en-
tirely, for no man with the right kind
of spirit of love in his heart, will
greatly transgress the law. We are
commanded to ''love our neighbor as
ourself." How many of US do itf
What man would go and tell his
neighbor Of his own shortcomings,
that he had himself been guilty Of an
absence Of concern regarding his
debts, or that he had been caught in
the excessively mean occupation of
hanging around the saloons, or play
ing cards in disreputable places :?
What woman would take all her asso-
ciates into her confidence and tell them
that she was tattler, busybody, a
mischief-maker, and not much good
anyway. Not one" you say. Well,
we do these things, most Of US, con-
cerning our neighbors, and if we love
them as ourselves, why not quit it?
When a man conceives the idea that
he must tell of his neighbor's short
comings, let him just pause and tell
of his own failings. Thus he will
serve the double and noble purpose of
avoiding talk concerning his neighbor,
while at the same time warning the
people against his own meanness.
When he desires to say of his brother
"he is hypocrite," let him say Il am
untruthful, uncharitable, and un-
worthy to be called Christian" l." The
man of noble purpose and impulse,
will wish for the success Of his broth
er; the contemplate man will wish
for the misfortune Of his brother while
at the same time pretending an undy-
ing regard for him; the man who is
fit to be called great will endeavor to
build up all those with whom he may
be thrown in contact, the mean man
will endeavor to drag down his neigh
Dor, and throw every object in the
way Of his success; the man who is
fit for heaven will endeavor to implant,
through the example Of his own life,
a warm admiration for Christian char
acter, and noble aim toward a better
life; the man who is only fit to reap
the reward Of the unfaithful and un-
rig ghteousne; S, will endeavor to put
his brother bepond the reach of divine
grace if possible. The man who de-
sireth evil will be a faithful servant Of
the evil one.
You are, we will say for the sake of
ehe argument.sin the saloon" or dog
gerry business. You see poor, weak
man, slave to debased appetite, and
who is fit subject for confinement in
a charitable Institution. You know
that the man will perhaps give way
under the least temptation; you, know
ing the danger, the unwisdom, the
meanness Of the act, put the bottle to
his lips and become instrumental in
his fall; what has been accomplished?
Simply this-that you have endeav-
ored to destroy human soul, besides
securing the condemnation of your
own soul. Suppose that, instead Of
encouraging him to drink, you had
told him frankly that you were en-
gagged in the most horrible business
on the face Of the earth, and that
your very presence was danger to him.
Suppose you had told him that the
tears of widows and heart-broken
wives were the glistening jewels which
decked the crown of your Internal
business. Suppose you had told that
the mile-stones along your pathway
were the graves of better men than
yourself. Suppose you had told him
that your strongest recommendation
to popularity was fiery sword that
pierced the heart Of innocence, and
graved crime across the cheek of vir-
tue; that the completed structure of
your work was the grave Of the pau
per, planted beneath the shadow of
the gallows; that out of your life, and
work, and record, nothing good could
come. Then you would have acted
the part of nobility, and placed your
self in a commendable Ii ght before the
world.
No man can fulfill the law of God,
or the law Of common humanity-to
use such term, while putting in his
brothers way that which is calculated
to drag him down rather than build
him up; that which degrades rather
than that which builds up and emo
bles. Talk about the doggery-keeper
getting to heaven? When the angels
become drunkards, then you may talk
about drundard makers becoming an
gels. The wicked desire evil. The
man who would destroy his best friend
for money, desires that such friend
become evil and weak in spirit, that